The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was received at the Maximou Mansion by Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
After the start of their meeting, the Prime Minister and the Ecumenical Patriarch spoke in front of the cameras.
Mitsotakis: The Greek State always stands by the Patriarchate
The Greek State Patriarchate will continue to support the Greek Orthodox Church at all times.
“How happy I am, Your Holiness, to welcome you again. I was telling you on the steps that the day started out cloudy, but as soon as you arrived, a bright sun came out – symbolic, I think, of the optimism which you always show in these troubled and difficult times,” the Prime Minister began and continued:
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I apologise for not being able to attend your speech, I was in the United Arab Emirates and then in Jordan, but I still wanted to convey to you how much joy and strength your visits always give us.
You are turning 35 years, with good reason, on the Patriarchal Throne next October. Many more years to come, I wish you.
And of course, we will have the opportunity to discuss the broader developments in our region, the great interest which you and we are showing in the protection of Orthodox Christians in the Middle East, at a time of great unrest.
But also the positive news that you bring us about the reopening of the Halki School of Theology, an important decision, which I know has been a long-standing desire of yours. And I want you to know that the Greek State always stands by the Patriarchate, but also by you personally, in order to support you in every way, to carry out and continue your God-given work.”
Bartholomew: We acknowledge the support of the Greek State
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For his part, the Ecumenical Patriarch said:
“We acknowledge and are grateful for this, Prime Minister.
I bring you the blessing of the Mother Church, the greetings of the small expatriate community of Constantinople.
It has been a week full of happy events in Athens, tomorrow morning we return to Istanbul. All my contacts have been blessed and successful because they were made in a climate of mutual love and appreciation.
I also bring you the blessings of our Patriarchate and of us personally for the full recovery of Mrs. Mareva.”
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “Thank you. Thank you. She would love to be here.”
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: “We followed her health adventure, we lit a candle at the Patriarchate for her health, because she is kind and kind always towards us.
You spoke about the Christians of the Middle East. Just a few days ago I had His Beatitude Patriarch of Antioch in the Patriarchate, who told us, so to speak, the real situation of the few Christians.
Unfortunately, there too, Christians are dwindling over time, and they have problems both in Syria and Lebanon, where His Beatitude’s jurisdiction extends.
As for intra-Orthodox cooperation, it was full of goodwill to return to the good past, because various unpleasant events have intervened and we will continue with the other sister Churches.
Next month we will go to Imbros together with His Beatitude Patriarchs of Romania and Bulgaria and it will be an opportunity to strengthen relations between us and discuss our common problems.”
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